A Metamora Township couple, charged with second degree murder after their two dogs mauled a jogger to death in July, will be in court this morning, once again asking that their bond be reduced and that a judge order they get separate trials.

Sebastiano Quagliata, 45, and Valbona Lucaj, 44, have been in jail since July, unable to post $500,000 bonds. The pair owned two large Cane Corso dogs who attacked Craig Sytsma, 46, of Livonia, as he jogged along Thomas Road in rural Metamora Township the evening of July 23. Sytsma, the father of three, bled to death on the road. Police and prosecutors say the dogs had bitten at least two other people in the months leading up to Sytsma's death, and that the owners were aware they were dangerous.

In addition to the bond motion, and the request for separate trials, defense attorneys are also expected to ask that the case be dismissed for lack of evidence. They are also seeking to dismiss testimony from a local veterinarian who testified at an earlier hearing that she warned the owners after examining the dogs that they were dangerous and likely to bite.

The dogs were destroyed after the attack.

Defense attorneys also want to hire their own experts on dog behavior, and are asking for approval from the court. If approved, the county would pay for the experts, since the dog owners are destitute.